Beer-tap.



PATENTED DEG. 4, 1906.

M. J. GHAPLIN.

BEER TAP. ArPLoATIoN FILED AUG.2z, 1904.

UNITED STATES MANLEY J. GHAPLIN,

TO EDWARD KAUFMANN,

.OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BEER-TAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1.906.

Application filed August 22,1904. Serial No. 221,710.

T0 all whom, it may conccrnf Re it known that I, MANLEY J. CHAPLIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have.

invented a new and useful Improvement in Beer-Taps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to taps for beer-casks, and has for its principal objects to provide a tap having simple and effective means for locking it in place, to provide a tap that will be locked in place by the insertion of the discharge-pipe, to provide means for simultaneously packing the joints around the discharge-pipe and around the bung-hole, and other objects hereinafter more fully appearmg.

My invention consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a view of the tap, showing the upper part in elevation and the lower part in section, the tap being in position in the bung-hole of a cask, the cork being shown in the position to which it may be forced by the tap. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the tap in place in the bung-hole of the cask, the discharge-pipe being in place and the packing glands being tightened. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of the barrel of the tap. Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the packing-sleeve. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the locking members; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the bung-hole of a cask, showing the bung or cork in place as it is before the cask is opened by the use of the tap. j

The subject of the present invention is a tap to be used in forcing liquids from casks or similar receptacles by pneumatic pressure, which is the prevalent practice in the case of beer.

The bung-hole of the cask 1 is provided with a bushing 2. At its upper edge the bushing is provided with an interior annular iiange 3. The cask is closed by a bung or cork 4.

The tap comprises a barrel 5, to which all its members are connected. The upper portion of the barrel is of larger diameter than Aket 20 The latter portion is provided with a peripheral groove 6 and holes 7, which open into the groove. Semicylindrical locking members 8, provided with inwardlyextending lugs 9, are seated in thegroove 6, with the lugs extending through the holes 7. Near their lower ends the locking members are provided with peripheral grooves 10. In these grooves a split elastic ring 23 of resilient material, is seated and holds the locking members close against the bottom of the groove 6 when the discharge-pipe is not in place.

The larger portion of the barrel 5 is provided with a laterally-extending tubular projection 11, which is interiorly screw-threaded near its outer end. A nipple 12 is screwed into said projection, the nipple being provided for the convenient attachment of a flexible tube communicating with the source of air 0r gas under pressure. A dischargepipe 13 extends vertically through the barrel 5. The internal diameter of the smaller portion of the barrel is slightly larger than the discharge-tube, and an internal annular rib 14 in the larger portion of the barrel has a similar internal diameter.

' It is desirable to have a tight joint between the tap and the bung-hole and between the upper part of the tap and the discharge-tube. For this purpose glands are provided, having the following construction: A packingsleeve 15, having its lower edge 17 offset and provided at the offset with an internal annular rib 18,1its over the barrel 5. The packing-sleeve is cut away at 19 to accommodate the tubular projection 11. When the sleeve is in place on the barrel, a groove is formed by the offset lower edge of the sleeve, the annular rib 1S, and the wall of the barrel, the groove being open toward the-cask. A gasis seated in the groove in contact with the cask and is thick enough to be retained in the groove by friction when the tap is not in place on a cask. A second gasket 21 is seated in the upper part of the barrel of the tap and rests upon the annular rib 14. A cap 22 in screw-threaded engagement with the upper part of the barrel rests upon the gasket 21. and the packing-sleeve 15. By screwing the cap down on the barrel the gasket 21 is compressed and tightens the joint around the discharge-pipe 13. At the same the lower portion.

IOO

time the packing-sleeve is forced down and compresses the gasket 20, thus making a tight joint between the tap and the cask.

In use the tap, without the discharge-pipe being attached, is inserted in the bung-hole of the cask, the bung or cork being pushed down by the lower end of the tap. I/Vhen the tap is pushed down as far as the packingsleeve 15 will permit, the discharge-pipe 13 is inserted. The pipe engages the lugs 9 on the locking members 8 and pushes the latter outwardly under the flange 3 of the bushing 2. Hence the tap cannot be withdrawn so long as the discharge-pipe is in place. The pipe being pushed down further drives the cork into the cask and is then lowered to its proper position in the cask. The cap 22 is then screwed down and tightens the joints b etween the tap and the discharge-pipe and between the tap and the cask. Connection with the source of pneumatic pressure can then be made by means of the nipple 12, and the device is ready to operate.

Obviously my device is capable of considerable modification within the scope of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the speciiic construction shown and described. For example, a rubber ring may be substituted for the split elastic annulus 23.

/Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent7 is,-

l. A tap comprising a barrel adapted for insertion in the bung-hole of a cask, a discharge-pipe extending through said barrel, a

. packing-ring in the upper end of said barrel,

a gland secured to the upper end of the bar-v rel for tightening said ring against said pipe and barrel, a packing-ring between said bar-. rel and the cask and means whereby the latter ring is tightened simultaneously with the tightening of said gland.

2. A tap comprising a barrel adapted for insertion in the bung-hole oi? a cask, a discharge-pipe removably mounted in said barrel, and locking members on said barrel arranged to be thrown into locking positions by said discharge-pipe.

3. A tap comprising a barrel adapted for insertion in the bung-hole of a cask, a discharge-pipe removably extending through said barrel, and locking members mounted on the exterior of said barrel and provided with members in position to be engaged by said discharge-pipe when in position in said barrel.

j 4.. A tap comprising a barrel adapted for insertion in the bung-hole of a cask, said barrel having a peripheral groove around its lower portion and diametrically opposite holes opening into said groove, substantially semicylindrical locking members provided with inwardly-extending projections seated in said groove with said projections extending through said holes and resilient means for holding said locking members in place.

5. A tap comprising a barrel adapted for insertion in the bung-hole of a cask, a discharge-pipe extending through said barrel, a sleeve on said barrel provided with an internal groove at its lower end, a gasket in said groove, a gasket in said barrel in engagement with said discharge-pipe and a screwcap on said barrel and engaging both said sleeve and said gasket in said barrel, whereby both gaskets may be simultaneously tightened.

6. A tap comprising a barrel arranged to be inserted in the bung-hole of a cask and to push the bung partly through the bung-hole, a discharge-pipe iitting in said barrel, and locking members carried by said barrel and arranged to be thrown into locking position by said' discharge-pipe, the portion of said locking members engaged by said dischargepipe being above the end of said barrel which engages the bung, whereby said locking members will be thrown into locking position before the bung can be ejected by said discharge-pipe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of August, 1904, at the city of St. Louis, Missouri.

MANLEY J CHAPLIN. 

